Knitting machine



jan, i3, w42.,

K. R. LIEBERKNECHT KNITTING MACHINE Filed Nov. 25', 1938 8 Sheets-Sheet l mwwmw www www w www w www www www www www. www

www

www w, www www.

www

NNN www QNN NNW QNN.

WWN www WWNI Qwm.

www @QN ww w www vwww w www www www www www www www w w www ww ww wwwrw1 w www www www www www www www WKN.

N www.

QA QN w AT\TO Jan. 13, 1942- K. R. LIEBERKNEcH-r 2,269,463

KNITTING MACHINE Filed Nov. 25, 1938 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 Wwf f 3 25 J l34g 35o 345 1.22. 4Z f/ 341 353 360 ji 543 346 V 1 6 l INVENTOR BY z/V/ wwr/ ATTORNEYS Jn, 13, 1942- i K. R. LIEBERKNECHT 2,269,463

' KNITTING MACHINE l Filed Nov. 25, 1958 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 Fz'gj 238 Fig. 9

' PE/VbA/vr VERT/CAL Mor/0N.

INVENTOR Jan, 13, 1942' K.VR. LIEBERKNECHT 2,269,463

KNITTING MACHINE Filed NQV, 25, 1958 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTOR Jan- 13, 1942u K. R. I IEBERKNECHT 2,269,463

KNITTING MACHINE Filed Nov. 25, 1938 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 A L 454 48 2 f :440 545 ,f @y 340 I, 54 351 I 54851759.37

Irwentoo M mm1 zum 4 45d 54454/ Patented Jan. 13, 1.942

KNITTING MACHINE Karl Richard Lieberknecht, Ober-lungwitz, Germany, assignor to Knitting Machine Corporation, a corporation of Delaware Application November 25, 193s, serial No. 242,340V

, In Germany July 26, 1937 67 Claims.

The present invention relates to improvements in knitting machines, and is herein disclosed as embodied in a iiat full-fashioned type knitting machine having mechanism for automatically turning the welt.

It is a principal object of the present invention to provide in a machine of this description novel and improved mechanism which is well adapted for automatic operation for setting up an initial course of fabric loops on the needles, and for taking up the fabric during subsequent knitting.

It is another object of the invention to provide in a machine of this description means for mechanically moving the welt mechanism to and from an inoperative position away from the needles, in which the welt mechanism will not `obstruct the subsequent operation of the knitting devices in the production of the fabric.

It is another object of the invention to provide in a. flat knitting machine adapted for automatic operation to knit the welt and leg portions of a full-fashioned hosiery blank by continuous knitting, a. novel and improved take-up means which is well adapted to permit attachment of a fabric take-up to the welt portion of the fabric, and to permit the continued function of the take-up during continuous machine operation.'

It is another object of the invention to provide a novel construction and mode of operation of applicants welt hooks to disengage selected said loops in the welt hooks for the subsequent knitting of the welt fabric.

It is a further object of the invention to provide in a, machine having mechanism for mechanically turning the welt, a novel and improved actuating means for the welt mechanism which will be simple in construction and efficient in operation to effect the setting up and subsequent turning of the welt.

With these 'and other objects in view as may hereinafter appear, the several features of the invention consist in the devices, combinations lieved necessary to show the connection of the present invention therewith; Fig. 2 is a cross sec- (Cl. (i6-96) l -needle wale loops from the needles, and to engage f tional view lookingv from the left and taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a detail sectional plan view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 -is a somewhat fragmentary view looking from the left and partly in section, showing portions of the driving and control devices for the machine located in the base, and more particularly the welt mechanism located in the machine base; Fig. 5 is a somewhat fragmentary detail view in front elevation showing the pattern chain and drive for the auxiliary cam shaft shown in Fig. 4; Fig. 6 is a detail plan view of the clutch shift lever and certain of the control devices therefor as taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 4; Fig. 7 is a cross sectional view looking from the left, showing particularly the portions of the drive for the supplemental cam shaft and the needle knitting motions of the machine; Fig. 8 is a somewhat detail View of the knitting cams with diagrammatic radiating lines showing the relation between these cams and the welt pendant operating cams; Fig. 9 is a detail view looking from the left showing a pair of picot operating cams with radiating lines to indicate their relationship to the knitting cam shown in Fig. 8; Fig. 10 is a detail plan view taken on the line I 0--I0 of Fig. 4; Fig. 11 is a detail view in front f elevation taken on the line l|-'-|l of Fig. 4; Fig. 12 is a wiring diagram showing particularly the connections of the pendant idling motion with various control switches; Figs. 13 to 32 inclusive are a series of somewhat diagrammatic views showing successive positions of the knitting devices including needles, sinkers and knockover i bits, and of the welt hooks relatively thereto during the operations of setting an initial course on the needles, and turning the welt; of these views Figs. 13, 14, 16, 17, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26 and 27 illustrate successive steps in the setting up operation, and Figs. 28 to 32 inclusive illustrate successive steps in the operation of turning the welt; Fig. 15 is a plan view corresponding to Fig. 13, but

with the dividers advanced; Fig. 19 is a view inv front elevation corresponding to Fig. 18; Fig. 21 is a plan view corresponding to Fig. 20; Fig. 23 is a plan view corresponding to Fig. 22; and Fig. 25 is a plan view corresponding to Fig. 24, but with the sinkers and dividers removed; Fig. 33 is a partial end view on an enlarged scale looking from the left, illustrating the welt hooks in starting position with relation to the knitting devices; Fig. 34 is a detail view of a welt hook in side elevation; Fig. 35 is a front view of the welt hook shown in Fig. 34; Fig. 36 is a bottom i* plan view of the hook; Figs. 37 to 40 inclusive,

" rearwardly show successive positions of the auxiliary takeup and welt wire supported thereon during the knitting and turning of the welt, and illustrating the manner of attaching and tensioning the regular take-up straps against the welt wires during the subsequent knitting of the leg portion of the fabric blank, these views being illustrations in modified form of the auxiliary takeup mechanism as shown in Fig. 4, in that the stationary pin supports are provided for supporting the welt wires above the fabric when laid into the auxiliary take-up holders in Welt Wire receiving position; and Fig. 41 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 4|-4I of Fig. 40, to illustrate the relative positions of the pin support and the holder of the auxiliary take-up in the modified form.

The machine disclosed in the drawings, comprises a multiple section full-fashioned knitting i machine which may be of ordinary description comprising for each section of the machine, a series of spring beard needles 40 which are supported to move as a unit on a needle bar 42, individually movable sinkers 44, dividers 45 and knockover bits'4l. The supporting structure of the machine comprises the usual cross frames 46 located at spaced intervals along the machine length, connected by means of longitudinally extending rails which include a s inker rail 48, a lower rear rail 50, a lower front rail 52 and a work table 54. The several cooperating instrumentalities of the machine are driven from a main cam shaft 56 which extends along the length of the machine.

In accordance with the usual construction of full-fashioned knitting machines, the needle bars 42 associated with each pair of knitting sections,

a lever arm 94 rigidly secured to a back catch bar rock shaft 96. Operation of the rock shaft 96 is controlled by means of one or more downwardly extending cam levers 98 which may be secured at spaced intervals to the shaft 96, each of which is provided at its lower end with a roller |00 for engagement with a catch bar cam |02. The catch bar 90 also has secured thereto at intervals along its length, forwardly extending arms |04 which are supported at their forward ends upon vertically extending front catch bar links |06 pivotally connected at their lower ends to horizontally extendinglever arm |08 on a front catch bar rock shaft ||0. Operation of the rock shaft ||0 is controlled by means of one or more cam levers ||2 which may be secured to the shaft at intervals along its length, each having a roller |'|3 arranged to be acted upon by a front catch oar cam ||4 on the main cam shaft 56. i

The narrowing machine, as generally shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings, comprises a lengthwise supporting rod |20 mounted on lever arms such as |22 at spaced intervals along the length of the machine for movement about a pivot shaft |24, to move the narrowing machine toward and away from the needles. The usual narrowing points for performing fashioning operations, are generally indicated at |26, and are supported on narrowing rods |28 slidably supported in depending brackets |30 secured to the supporting rod |20. Inasmuch as the actuating and controlling devices for the narrowing machine are well known in the art, and form specifically no are mounted on a frame 5l which is pivotally mounted at 58 on a horizontally disposed lever arm 60 rigidly secured to a vertical motion rock shaft 62 extending along the lengthof the machine. The shaft 62 is provided at intervals with downwardly extending cam levers 64, each such lever 64 having mounted thereon a roller 66 for engagement with a vertical motion knitting cam 61 on the cam shaft 56. Operating connections for imparting forward and back motions to the needles, comprises for each pair of knitting sections, a downwardly extending arm 68 forming part of the supporting frame 51 which is connected by means of a link 10 with a downwardly extending actuating lever 14 secured to the needle in-and-out motion rock shaft 16 ex'- tending along the length of the machine. The shaft 16 is provided at spaced intervals along its length with downwardly extending cam levers 1B each having mounted thereon a cam roller 80 for engagement with a needle in-and-out knitting cam 8| on the main cam shaft 56. As best shown in Fig. 7 of the drawings, eachneedle in-and-out motion cam lever 18 is provided with a downwardly extending portion 82 and a stud 84 which is arranged to be engaged by the usual stitch regulator lever 86 carried on regulator shaft 88 extending along the length of the machine.

For controlling the operation of the dividers and sinkers, the machine-is provided with a catch bar 90 which is supported and controlled by means of the usual connections including front and rear catch bar motions generally shown in Fig. 7 of/the drawings. The catch bar 90 has secured thereto at intervals along its length, extending links 92, each of which is pivotally connected to the upper end of part of the present invention, no further description or illustration thereof is believed necessary.

In carrying out the present invention, applicant provides a novel and improved welt mechanism adapted for automatic operation to take an initial course of welt fabric loops. and for subsequently returning these loops to the needles to turn the welt. The welt mechanism comprises a welt bar |40 associated with each knitv ting section, having supported thereon a series of Welt hooks |42 which are adapted to remove alternate needle Wale kinks of the setting-up course from alternate needles, and subsequently to return these loops to the needles to turn the welt. The hooks |42 and welt bar |40 for each section of the machine, are supported for vertical and forward and back motions on a hanging frame or pendant |44 comprising two upwardly extending arms which are secured to opposite ends of a hollow rock shaft or tube |46 pivotally supported in bearings formed on two forwardly extending supporting lever arms |40, which are in turn supported at their rear ends on a pivot shaft |50 extending along the machine length. The pivot shaft |50 and other associated parts of the welt mechanism hereinafter described, are supported above the knitting machine in a gallows formed by a series of supporting frames |54 mounted on the machine at spaced intervals along the length thereof. Vertical and forward and back positioning movements are imparted to the pendants |44 and welt hooks |42 supported thereby, both for setting up an initial course of fabric, and for subsequently turning the welt by means of connections from a supplemental carri shaft |56 which is supported in an upper part of the machine in bearings formed in the frames |54. l

With'the present construction, mechanism is provided for separately controlling the forward land back movements of each pendant 44. To this end there is secured to each rock shaft |46,

a depending arm |58 which is connected by a4 link |60 curved to clear the welt cam shaft |56, to a downwardly extending cam lever |62 pivotally supported'at its upper end on a short rock shaft or tube |63 carried by the forwardly extending supporting arms |48, the lever |62 heilig provided intermediate its length with a cam roll |64 adapted to engage with a forward and back motion welt cam |66 on the welt cam shaft |56. Each of the pendant lever arms |44 is provided with an upward extension |68 to which is 'attached a tension spring acting to maintain the in-and-out cam roll |64 in engagement with its cam |66, and also providing tensioning meansfor moving the pendants |'44 and welt hooks |42 `take-up action of the pendants, each pendant rock shaft |46 has also secured thereto a stop lever I'|2 having mounted thereon an adjustable stop screw |`|4 adapted for engagement against the top surface of one of the forwardly extending supporting levers |48.

` With the present construction, mechanism is provided for imparting simultaneous vertical positioning movements to the several pendants |44 and associated Welt hooks |42, which is constructed and arranged to permit any particular section to be raised out of operative position by the operator without interfering with or affecting the continued operation of the welt devices associated with other knitting sections of the machine, in the event that the operator finds it necessary to disconnect any particular knitting section from activel operation. The mechanism for imparting vertical motions to the pendants |44, comprises a lifting rod |16 which extends along the lengthof the machine beneath the forwardly extending supporting levers |48, and is supported at intervals in forwardly extending cam levers |18 which at their forward ends are provided with cam rollers |80 for engagement with cooperating vertical motioncams |82 secured to the welt cam shaft |56. -In order to provide an accurate vertical adjustment in the position of each pendant. |44 with relation to the lifting rod |16 and vertical motion cams |82, each supporting arm |48 has mounted thereon an adjustable stop screw |84 for engagement with the lifting rod |16. There is also provided with each supporting lever |48, a spring clip |86 which is arranged to snap around the lifting rod |16 to maintain the supporting levers I 48 in spring-pressed engagement therewith.

In accordance with one feature of the present invention, a novel driving mechanism is provided for the welt cam shaft |56 which is ,constructed and arranged to drive the welt cam shaft |56 through one-half revolution only during each o f the setting-up and subsequent welt turning operations in timed relation to the main cam shaft 56, and then to lock the welt cam shaft |56 in either of two predetermined angular positions. The mechanism through which the welt cam shaft 56 is driven from the main cam shaft 56 comprises a bevel driving gear |90 loosely mounted on the main cam shaft 56 which meshes with a bevel pinion |92 on a connecting drive shaft |94, which in turn drives a second connecting drive shaft |96 through bevel gear connections comprising a bevel gear |98 on the shaft |94 which meshes with a bevel gear 200 on a short laterally extending stub shaft 202, a second bevel gear 204 on the shaft 202 being arranged to mesh with a bevel gear 206 on the upper connecting drive shaft |96. Adjacent its upper end the con necting shaft |96 carries a bevel pinion 208 adapted to mesh with a bevel gear 2|0 rigidly secured to the welt cam shaft |66. The construction and arrangement of these driving connections is such that the welt cam shaft |58 will be driven in a clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 2. The driving connections'above described, are rendered operative to drive the welt cam shaft 56 through successive increments of one-half revolution only from the main cam shaft through connections which comprise a single tooth clutch member 2|2 which is supported to turn with the driving gear and to slide axially with relation thereto, by means of two pins 2|4 secured to the clutch member 2|2, and extending axially through bores 'formed in the hub of the gear |90. The clutch member 2|2 is arranged for engagement with the cooperating driving cluh member 2|6 rigidly secured to the main cam shaft 56. A stationary guide member 220 securedto the machine frame, is arranged for engagement with an annular groove 222 formed in the hub portion of the drive gear |90 to prevent axial movement of the gear, and to maintain a constant meshing relationship of the gear with pinion |92.

The driving clutch member 2|2 is moved into and out of operative engagement with thedriving clutch member 2|6 to start and stop the rotation of the welt cam shaft |56 by means of connections which comprise clutch shifting levers 224 and 226 secured to a vertically extending rock shaft 228, and providedat their forward ends with follower rolls 230 arranged toengage in an annular groove 232 formed -in the periphery of the slidable clutch member 2|2. A tension spring 234 connected to a laterally extending arm 236 on the lower end of the Vertical rock shaft 228, tends to move the single tooth clutch member 2|2 into operating engagement with the driving' clutch-member 2|6. The clutch member 2|2 is. however, held normally at a retracted inoperative position by the engagement of a vertically extending detent lever 238 carried on a fixed pivot 240 with a rearwardly extending arm 242 secured to the upper end of the vertical rock shaft 228. Upon movement of the detent lever 238 rearwardly out of' engagement with the cooperating arm 242, the clutch member 2|2 will be moved under the pressure of its spring 234 linto operative engagement with the driving clutch member 2|6. After the main cam shaft has rotated through a partial revolution, and when the welt cam shaft |56 has turned through substantially one-half revolution, the clutch member 2 2 is again moved.

to its inoperative position to disconnect the drivey to the welt cam shaft |56 by the engagement of a roller 244 supported on the upper, clutch shifting lever 224 with a throw-out cam 246 on fected, comprise a forwardly extending link 252l secured at its rear end to the detent lever 238,

and at its forward end to one end of a bellcrank 254, the other arm of which is connected by means of a link 256 to an upwardly extending arm 258 of a pattern chain lever 260. A tension spring 262 attached to the arm 258 tends to maintain these parts in the position shown in Figs. 4 and 5, to maintain the detent lever 238 normally in locking position.

In order that the welt cam shaft |56 may be accurately stopped in a predetermined angular position until again rendered operative through the engagement of the clutch 2I2, a locking lever 264 (see Fig. 2) is provided, loosely supported to turn on the shaft |50, and provided at its forward end with a roller 266 which rides on the periphery of a disk 268 on the Welt cam shaft |56. The disk 268 is provided with two cupshaped slots 210 which are located to receive the roller 266 at the end of each one-half revolution of the welt cam shaft |56. A tension spring 212 acting on the lever 264, tends to hold the roller 266 yieldingly in engagement with the engaging slot 210 to accurately center and to lock the welt cam shaft |56 in either of its two angular stop positions.

In accordance with another feature of the invention, applicant providesI mechanism for mechanically raising the welt mechanism to a high inoperative position after the turning of the welt, in order that this mechanism may not interfere with subsequent operation of the machine. This mechanism operates to raise simultaneously all the pendants |44 .and their associated supporting and actuating levers along the length of the machine to the high dot-anddash position shown in Fig. 2, and subsequently to lower these parts again to their operating position when needed. In the preferred embodiment of the invention shown, these operations are performed by means of a reversible electric motor automatically controlled to effect the raising and lowering of the welt mechanism during machine operation, and without the necessity of any particular attention on the part of the operator. As best shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, a number of segment levers such as that shown at 214, are loosely mounted to turn on the shaft |50 at spaced intervals along the length of the machine., Each of these levers 214 and-dash lines in Fig. 2 of the drawings, it has been found desirable to provide means for swinging the pendants |44 rearwardly against the pressure of their springs |10, sothat the pendants and welt hooks |42 will be located in a rearwardly withdrawn position to provideeasy access by the operator to the several knitting sections during subsequent lmitting. To this end, guideways 3|0 are mounted on forward extensions 3H of the gallows frames |54 between each pair of sections, these guideways 3|0 being arranged for engagement with cooperating pins 3 l2 formed on the adjacent pendant arms |44, so that as the welt mechanism is raised, the pins 3|2 will be brought into engagement with the guideways 3| 0, thus causing the lower ends of the rising pendants |44 and welt bars |40 to be moved rearwardly to the relatively withdrawn position shown in dot-and-dash lines in Fig. 2.

In order that the pendant I 44 associated with each individual section may be separately raised and locked in a high inoperative position which will be independent of the operation of the power mechanism above described, there is provided at the upper end of each guideway 3|0,

a recess 3|3 into which the lugs 3|2 may be moved by manual manipulation of the pendant |44. As indicated in Fig. 2 of the drawings, this recess 3|3 is located somewhat above the position to which the pendants |44 and lugs 3|2 are brought through the power operation of the welt raising mechanism.

In the construction shown. connections are provided for controlling the operation of the lifting motor 206 from the pattern chain 250 of the machine, to eifecttheautomatic lowering is provided at its outer end with an adjustable stop screw 216 which is' adapted for engagement with the under side of the shaft |16. Each of these levers has formed thereon an internal gear segment 218 which meshes with a pinion 280 formed on a rotatable shaft 282 which extends along the length of the machine, it being understood that a pinion 280 is provided on the shaft 282 for engagement with each segmental lifting lever 214. The shaft 282 is rotated in one direc-V tionor the other to raise or lower the pendants |44 by-means of a reversible electric motor 286 rigidly supported on a bracket 288 secured to one of the gallows fram'es |54. The connections kthrough which the shaft 282 is driven from the motor 286 comprise a pinion 290 mounted on the rotor shaft 292 of the motor, which meshes with a large gear 294 on a forwardly extending stub shaft 296. A worm 298 formed on the shaft 296 drives a worm gear 300 on an intermediate shaft 302 which is in turn connected to drive the shaft 282 by means of intermeshing pinlons 304 and 306 supported respectively on the two shafts.

In lifting the welt mechanism to the high inof the welt mechanism to operative position prior to the beginning of each new set on the machine, 'and the subsequent raising of the welt mechanism to the high inoperative position shown in dot-and-dash lines in Fig. 2, at some point subsequent to the completion of the welt turning operation. These connections include a one-eighth turn ratchet snap motor reversing switch 3|4, a quarter turn ratchet snap motor starting switch 3|5, and a motor stop switch 3|6, these switches being connected as shown in the electrical diagram Fig. 12, to control the operation of the lifting motor 286 which may be assumed to be a reversible direct current motor of ordinary description. As shown in Figs. 4 and 5 of the drawings, the position of the motor reversing switch 3| 4 is controlled from the pattern chain to be turned through successive increments of one-eighth turn to reverse the motor connections through connections which include a switch rocker arm 3I1 connected by a link 3|8 .to a pattern chain lever 3|9. The motor starting switch 3I5 is similarly controlled from the pattern chain of the machine to be turned through successive increments of one-quarter turn'to start the motor through connections including a switch 'rocker arm 320, link 32| and pattern lever 322. The motor stop switch 316 is arranged to be operated directly from the welt mechanism lifting and lowering devices including particularly the segment levers 214 to automatically disconnect the motor when the welt mechanism reaches either of its alternative high inoperative or low operative positions. These connections, as best shown in Fig. 2, include a stop switch rocker arm 323, link 324 and a lever arm 325 rigidly secured to turn with one of the operative position shown, for example, in dot- 76 segment levers 214. y

'I'he operation of th'e electrical circuit including the three switches 3|4, 3|5 and 3|6 shown in Fig. 12, may be briefly described as follows:

At some point during the operation of the machine after the welt mechanism has been moved, for example, to its high position, the position of the motor reversing switch 3|4 is shifted through the actuation of the bump on the pattern chain lever` to set the motor for operation in a direction to lower the welt mechanism. This may be assumed to be the illustrated position of switch 3|4 in Fig. 12. The motor, however, does not start owing to the fact that the circuit is open through the starting and stopping switches 3|5 and 3|6 which may be assumed to be in the positions illustrated in Fig. 12. When the motor is to be started, the starting switch 3 I 5 is now shifted one-quarter turn to its alternative position, thus closing the circuit through stopping switch 3|6 and starting the motor. As the Welt mechanism now reaches the low full line position of Fig. 2, the stopping switch 3|6 will be shifted from the position illustrated in Fig. 12, to its alternative position, thus again opening the circuit to stop the motor. -The operation of these connections including switches 3|4, 3| 5 and 3I6 to move the welt mechanism to its high inoperaings, there are provided with each knitting section, twosupplementary 4Welt rod guideways 340 which are rigidly secured to the work table 54, one at each side of the'needle series. rhese guideways provide support for welt wire slides or holders 34|, each of which is provided in the face adjacent the needle series, with a vertically extending groove or slot 342 open at its upper end to receive the usual welt wire (not shown), and having at its lower end an opening 343 toward the front of the machine to permit the welt wire to be drawn forwardly away from the welt wire support 34| by the operation of the regular take-up straps when subsequently attached thereto by the operator. As will be clear- Y ly evident from Fig. 4 of the drawings, each of tive position, is the reverse of that previously described. The reversing switch 3I4'is shifted oneeighth turn reversing the two inside terminals to cause the motor when subsequently rendered operative, to operate in a reverse direction to lift the welt mechanism. The subsequent shifting of the motor starting switch 3|5 through onequarter turn to the position shown in Fig. 12, the

supports, adapted to receive welt Wires which4 may be laid in during the knitting of an early portion of the welt fabric, and an auxiliary takeup device cooperating with the welt wire supports to tension the said supports and the Welt wires supported thereby forwardly to take up the fabric during the subsequent knitting of the welt and adjoining leg portions of the fabric. These welt wire supports are constructed and arranged to permit the usua1 fabric take-up straps to be attached by the operator to the welt` wires held in their supports during the continued knitting of the stocking blank. The welt wire supports above referred to, are constructed and arranged for movement through a sulcient distance under the influence of the auxiliary take-up referred to, so that the operator will have time after the during continued knitting of the leg fabric to attach the usual take-up straps to the welt wires along the length of the machine. Further in accordance with the present invention, the welt wire supports are constructed and arranged to permit the welt wires when acted upon by the usual take-up straps attached in this manner, to move forwardly out of engagement with the welt wire supports which are then returned to their initial )rea ard position preparatory for the knitting of he next succeeding set upon the machine.

As best shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 4 of thedrawcompletion of the welt turning operation and v supports 34|, are arranged to be automatically f the guideways 340 is supported on the table 54 in such a manner that the rear end thereof projects considerably below thelevel of the sinkers and associated knockover bits. For the rearward or starting position of the holders 34|, the opening 343 will be located below the line of fabric tensioned by the take-'up welt hooks. It will also be noted that the rear walls of the slots 342 opposite the openings 343 are recessed to provide means for holding or trapping the welt wire in position against the welt fabric. It has been found otherwise that the continued jiggling of the fabric'during the knitting of the welt fabric, would tend to throw the welt wires out of their holders. The holders .34| provided with these recesses, act substantially as hook take-up elements when the auxiliary take-up is rendered operative to tension the welt wires against the fabric. During continued knitting, the take-up holders 34| move rearwardly on their slides 340 in a direction which converges with a take-up line extending from the sinkers across the table to the racked fabric take-up, so that the opening 343 moves relatively upwardly into -a position in which the welt wires will be readily moved outwardly through this opening when the usual takeup straps are attached thereto.

The movement of the welt wire supports 34| on their slides 34|! is controlled through connections from a rock shaft 344 extending along the length of the machine, which include a lever arm v345 for each welt wire support 34| rigidly secured 348, and has attached to its other end a take-up' weight 349.

The rock shaft 344 and the welt wire supports 34| attached thereto, are normally held in a fully retracted position by means of connections which include a latch lever 350 mounted on a forwardly extending rock shaft 352, and arranged for engagement with a cooperating offset lug 353 formed on the forward end of one of the links 346 adjacentthe point of pivotal connection with the associated lever arm 345 (see Figs. 2 and 11), The rock shaft 352 is supported in a bearing 35| formed in a bracket secured to the under side of the work table 54. The auxiliary take-up including the welt wire released to take up the welt fabric by means of connections from the pattern chain 250 which include a 'laterallyextendng lever arm 354 which is secured to the forward end of the latch lever shaft 352, and is connected by means of a link 355 to a pattern chain lever 356 (see Figs. 4 and 5).

In the illustrated construction, mechanism is also provided for automatically relieving the auxiliary take-up tension by the weight 349 during the operation of returning the initial course of welt loops to the needles to turn the welt, it being understood that the auxiliary fabric takeup is at this time in active position, the regular take-up straps not as yet having been operatively connected to the welt wires carried in the welt wire supports 34|. 'I'he relieving mechanism is arranged to be actuated from the main cam shaft of the machine in timed relation to the operation of the welt mechanism to turn the welt, and is arranged to be controlled automatically from the pattern chain 250 of the machine. The relieving mechanism comprises a ratchet 360 rigidly secured to turn with the auxiliary take-up rock shaft 344 and a cooperating rack pawl lever 362 which is pivotally secured at its lower end to one arm of a cam actuated lever 364. The lever 364 is pivotally supported at 366 on a stationary bracket 368 sleeved on the operating shafts 16 and ||0, and further supported against axial movement thereon between two collars 310 pinned to the shaft 16. A second arm of the cam actuated lever 364 carries on the lower end thereof, a stud 312 on which is mounted a shiftable cam roller 314 (see Figs. 4 and 11). A small tension spring 316 connected at one end to the rack pawl lever 362, and at its other end to a lug 318 onvthe lever 364, tends to move the rack lever toward the ratchet, this movement being limited by engagement of the rack pawl lever 362 with a lug 380 on the cam actuated lever 364. A tension spring 382 connected to the cam actuated lever 364, tends to i move the lever in a clockwise direction as shown in Fig. 4, to maintain the roller 314 inengagement with its operating cam or disk, and to maintain the rack pawl lever 362 supported as above described, out of engagement with thel ratchet 360. As best shown in Fig. 1l of the drawings, the cam roller 314 is normally supported. upon a disk 384 on the main cam shaft 56 in the inoperative position shown, for example, in Fig. 4 of the drawings. An identical disk 386 supported at the left of the disk 384 as viewed in Fig. 1l, provides a support for the roller 314 when the camshaft 56 is shogged to the right for the usual narrowing loperation of the machine. To the right' of the disk 384 is located an operating cam 388 having thereon a rise portion which is adapted to rock the cam lever 364 in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 4, to engage the rack pawl lever 362 with the ratchet 360. and thus to relieve temporarily the take-up action of the auxiliary take-up during the welt turning operation.

The cam roller 314 is shifted into and out of operative relation to the operating cam 388 through connections actuated from the pattern chain 250 of the machine, which include the previously described pattern chain lever 356, link 355 and forwardly extending latch lever rock shaft 352 for tripping theA auxiliary' take-up mechanism into active operation. A low bump on the pattern chain operates to rockl the latch lever 350 out of engagement with the cooperating lug 353, and thereby to render the auxiliary take-up mechanism operative to take up the welt fabric. At a subsequent point in the operation when the pendants |44 and welt hooks |42 are to be moved rearwardly to return the initial course of welt loops to the needles, and while the auxiliary take-up is still in active operation, a high bump rides under the pattern lever 366 to rock the shaft 352 still further in a clockwise direction, and'thereby to shift the roller 314 onto the actuating cam 388, the roller being subsequently permitted to return to its inoperative position at the end of the welt turning operation as thesubsequent racking of the pattern chain 250 moves the high bump from beneath the pattern lever. The connections through which this operation of the cam roller 314 is effected, include a roller shifting lever 390 which is supported to turn on a forwardly extending pivot 392 on a depending portion of the stationary bracket 368, and is provided at its lower end with a long slotted portion 394 engaging a groove formed in the sleeve hub of the cam roller 314. The slotted portion 394 is of sufficient length to permit freedom of movement of the cam actuated lever 364 under the influence of the actuating cam 388. A laterally extending arm 396 formed on the hub of the clutch shifting lever 390, is operatively connected by means of a link 398 with an arm 400 rigidly secured to the rock 'shaft 352. A pin and slot connection 402 between the link 398 and the lever arm 400, permits the rocking of the shaft 352 under the influence of a low bumpV on the pattern chain to release the latch lever 350 without shifting the roller 314 from the inoperative position shown in Fig. 1l. The relatively greater rocking movement imparted to the shaft 352 and lever 350 by the subsequent engagement of the high bump under the pattern lever 356 does, however, operate to lift the link 398 and shift the roller 318 onto its operating cam 388' as above set forth.

Other features of applicants invention relate to the provision of an improved welt hook |42 and in the improved mode of operation of the welt hooks and associated knitting elements including particularly the needles 40, to remove Wale kinks from alternate needles to form the setting-up course of welt fabric, and subsequently to return these loops to the needles. Applicants welt hook, as best shown in Figs. 34 and 35 of the drawings, comprises a vertically extending shank portion having the lower end thereof doubled over into a parallel position with the shank to form the hook. The bottom of the hook is provided with lateral tapered portions 4|0 to facilitate the engagement of the welt hook between the adjoining sinkers and knockover bits during the downward movement thereof to the beard side of the needles, as more fully hereinafter described. The doubled-over or hook portion is also provided on the outer face thereof with a groove 4|2 which extends vertically the full length of the doubled-over portion of the hook. In the construction shown, the individual welt hooks |42, one for each alternate needle, are rigidly clamped in the welt bars |40 which are in turn rigidly secured to the lower ends of the pendant lever arms |44. In order to insure an accurate alignment of the hooks |42 with the needles and between the adjacent sinker and webholder elements of the machine, each pendant frame |44 is provided on opposite sides thereof, with wing plates 4|4 which are adapted for engagement between positioning screws 4|6 mounted on extensions 4|8 rigidly secured to the deto take an initial setting-up course of welt loops from the needles, and subsequently to return these loops to turn the welt, willbe described in connection with the illustrative views Figs. 13 to 32 inclusive, and in connection with Figs. 8 and 9, Fig. 8 showing in somewhat diagrammatic form, corresponding positions of the needle and catch bar motion cam rollers with respect to their operating cams on the main cam shaft, and Fig. 9 similarly showing corresponding positions of the vertical and in-and-out motion cam rollers with respect to their actuating cams on the welt cam shaft |66. During the setting-up operation, the needle in-and-out motion cam roller 80 is controlled by a special cam designated at 420 in Fig. 8. In this connection, it will be notedthat the designation of the successive positions of the needles corresponding to Figs. 13 to 27 inclusive, are noted with relation to cam 420 for the forward and back positions of the needles. It will be understood that the cam 42|) is rendered operative to control the in-and-out needle motion during the setting up, by any convenient means as, for example, by shifting the in-and-out needle motion cam roller 80 to the right from its normal operating position. This motion is preferably controlled from the main pattern shaft of the machine through connections including a pattern lever and ashifting fork associated with roller 80, these parts being not shown, since this construction is common in full-fashioned machines of the type disclosed.

In accordance with the present invention, ap-

plicant employs a novel mode of operation of his welt hooks with relation to the needles and other cooperating instrumentalities to perform the setting-up operation. The welt hooks are moved downwardly between adjacent sinkers and dividers to the beard side of the needles at the completion of the yarn sinking and dividing operation, to rest against a bevel 422 of the usual press edge 424 to provide a sturdy support for the Welt hooks which then cooperate with the needles to press olf alternate needles above the usual yarn sinking level. As the needles are now moved forwardly and down to the knockover position, the welt hooks are moved forwardly over the tops of the needles to engage the outer surface of the 'hooks against the pressed-oil:` bars of yarn as these drop onto the knockover bits, so that these bars of yarn are held in a forward position as the needles now move rearwardly toward the press. The hooks are then moved downwardly to the backs of the needles, causing f the cast-oft` bars or kinks of yarn to be engaged within the 1hooks. 'I'his mode of operation of the -hooks has the specific advantage of insuring a positive control of the yarn during the formation Aof the setting-up course while maintaining the hooks atv all times subsequent to the press- Aing-oli? operation, out of engagement'with the .needles, thus eliminating the possibility of damage to the parts through faulty adjustment or operation of the needles and hooks which might otherwise result in damage to the machine parts.

Referring specifically to Figs. v13 to 27,I illuS- trating successive steps of the setting-up operation, Fig. 13 shows the hooks in their starting position during the operation of the yarn'carrier shown in dot-and-dash lines at 426 to lay an initial course of yarn. At this time the welt hooks downward movement into engagement with'the bevel portion 422 of the press edge 424, the needle beards then moving into pressing engagement with the doubled-over portion of the hooks above the yarn sinking level as shown in Fig. 14. Figs. 16 and 17 show the subsequent position of the needles which have now moved downwardly to cause the alternate needle wale kinks to be landed on the outside of their needle beards, while at the same time the hooks also move downwardly with the needles onto the press edge 424. The special in-and-out needle cam 420 operates during this movement of the needles to maintain an adequate but not excessive pressing engagement of the needles with the hooks during these movements. Figs. 17, 18, and 20 illustrate successive positions of the needles during their forward movement to draw the kinked yarn forwardly over the ends of the sinker nibs, the welt hooks |42 following closely this mode of movement. Fig. 19 is a somewhat diagrammatic view in front eelvation showing the parts substantially in the position shown in Fig. 18. Fig. 21 is a plan view showing the parts substantially in the positions taken in Fig. 20. In Fig. 22, the needles in accordance with the usual operation 'of these parts, have moved downwardly to the knockover A level, the welt hooks |42 having at the same time `moved forwardly and slightly downwardly between adjacent knockover bits 4l to engage with substantially the position shown in Fig. 22. During the continued operation of the machine, the welt hooks |42 now move downwardly to the backs of the needles as shown in Fig. 24, causing the pressed-off bars of yarn to fall against the shanks of the welt hooks. Fig. 25 is a plan view of the parts in the positions shown in Fig. 24. Fig. 26 shows the completion of the setting-up operation in which the needles have again moved to their high position ready for; the laying of the next curse, the hooks having been again lifted so that the bottom ends thereof are slightly above the knockover bits 4l. For this position of the parts, the pendant in-and-out cam roller |64 will stand opposite a low portion of its actuating cam |66, so that the pendants |44 will be l permitted to follow the in-and-out motion of the |42 start their downwardv movement reaching the needles under the influence of the take-up springs (see Fig. 2), to take up additionally knitted fabric. During the knitting of subsequent courses, the welt hooks |42 will then be move'd away from the needles as shown in Fig. 27. At the en d of the first setting-up course, the needle in-and-out motion cam roller 80 will again be shifted to the left into operative engagement with the usual knitting cam 8| for subsequent knitting on the machine. As previously described, the welt -cam shaft |66 is rotated through one-half revolution only during the setting-up operation in timed relation to the rotation of the main cam shaft 56,0f the machine, being then held stationary during the subsequent knitting of the welt fabric.

The operation of transferring the loops held on the welt hooks |42 back to the needles to complete the turning of the Welt, may be briefly described in connection with Figs. 28 to 32 of the drawings, and also in connection with Figs. 8 and 9, which illustrate thecorresponding positions of shown in Fig. 15. The hooks |42' continue their 75 the cam rollers with relation to their operating the press edge 424 and the needles have' started- -their upward movement engaging within the grooves 4I2 in the outer surface of the turnedover portion of the welt hooks, while at the same time the hooks have started to move downwardly to disengage the initial course of loops therefrom. In Fig. 30, the hooks have been moved'to their extreme downward position, while the needles continuato move upwardly between the sinkers, the initial course of welt loops being supported on the outside of the needle beards. Figs. 31 and 32 show successive positions of the needles and welt hooks, in which the needles are moved to their high position preparatory for the knitting of the next succeeding course, while the welt hooks have been moved upwardly to their high `inoperative position as shown in dot-and-dash lines in Fig. 32.

Figs. 37 and 40 inclusive, illustrate the several positions taken by the welt wire take-up mechanism, and more particularly the auxiliary fabric take-up during the succeeding steps of laying in .the welt wire inthe holders of the auxiliary takeoperating relationship of the holder and pin sup port. Inasmuch a-s the parts shown in these figures are in every respectl identical with, and have the same mode of operation as the corresponding parts shown in Fig. 4, with the exception of the specific construction of the auxiliary take-up holders themselves, and the newly added pin supports, the several parts with the exception of the holders and pin supports are given the Videntical reference numerals according to the parts in the preceding figures of the drawings. While as previously described, the take-up tension on the welt fabric may be considered adequate to prevent the weltA wires when positioned in the holders, from inadvertently dropping to the bottom thereof, and falling out through the opening 343, and while the holders are of sufficient height normally to prevent the welt wire from being bounced out of the slots, under certain conditions of operation, it has been found.

that a momentary variation or slackening of the fabric tension, may cause the welt wire to become dislodged from the holders. In order to obviate this possibility, in the modified form of the invention illustrated in Figs. 37 to 41 inclusive, supporting means are provided in the form of pin supports 440 which are arranged when the holders designated in the modification of Figs. 37 to 41 inclusive, at 44|, are in their rearward or welt wire receiving position to prevent the welt wire from dropping to the bottoni of its slot, and to support the welt wire substantially above the plane of the fabric being drawn olf bythe usual welt hooks. There is one such pin support 440 provided to cooperate with each holder 44|, being rigidly secured to the rear end of the corresponding fixed guideway 340. These pins extend upwardly and thence forwardly through small apertures formed in the rear walls of the holders 44|, and thence across the slotted portion thereof when the holders are in their rearward welt wire receiving position. Except for the apertures 'referred to, the holders 44| are in .every respect identical with the holders 34| previously described. When a take-up tensioning strain is now applied to the holders 44| to tension the welt wires against the welt fabric, forward' movement'of the holders 44| from their position shown in Fig. 37 toward the position shown in Fig. 38, causes the relatively stationary pins 440 to be withdrawn from beneath the welt wiredesignated at 444, which is now permitted to move downwardly in the slots riding on the cammed surface 448 into the recess' formed in the rear wall of the slots 342. Fig. 39 shows the position of the auxiliary take-up including the holders 44| subsequent to the turning of the welt, at a time when the operator has manually attached the usual take-up straps 448 to the welt wires, but prior to the tensioning of the usual fabric take-up. 'I'his take-up as shown in detail in Figs. 37 to 40 inclusive, and also as indicated in Fig- 4, comprises the usual take-up shaft 450 extending along the length of the machine, and having mounted thereon fabric take-up rollers 452, to which are attached the take-up straps 448. Further in accordance with the usual practice, there is loosely mounted on the shaft 458, a pulley 454 having connected thereto a take-up cord 456 and take-up weight 458, together with a crank ,460 attached to the pulley 454, and a vpavvl and ratchet connection generallyA indicated at 462 between the pulley and the take-up shaft 450. It will be understood thatl the operator after having attached the take-up straps to the several welt wiresl along the length of the ma-- chine, will wind up the take-up in order to apply the regular take-up tension to the welt wires. During subsequent knitting, the 'welt wires are then moved forwardly .away from the auxiliary take-up holders 44| as previously described, and as specifically illustrated in Fig. 40 of the drawings.

This application is a continuation in part, and is intended to take the place of applicants copending application Serial No. 212,088, i'lled June 6, 1938.

It will be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific' embodiment shown, and that various deviations may be made therefrom -without departing from the spirit and scope4 of (ill the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a fiat knitting machine having operating devices including a needle series for producing knitted fabric, a welt mechanism comprising instrumentalities to set up an initial course of welt fabric and to return said initial course to the needles to turn the welt, operating means for said instrumentalities, supporting means independent of the operating means on which said instrumentalities can b e lifted to an inoperative position in which the welt mechanism will not obstruct the subsequent operation of said devicesl in the production of the fabric, means actuating said supporting means for lifting said in stru-mentalities to an inoperative position in which the welt mechanism will not obstruct subsequent operation of said devices in the production of the fabrio and control means operative to lift the welt m chanism to said inoperative position after t e forming of the welt, and -for lowering said Welt mechanism prior to the setting up of a new fabric on the needles.

2. In a flat knitting machine having operating devices including a needle series for producing a knitted fabric, a welt mechanism comprising instrumentalities arranged to cooperate with the needles to turn the Welt, operating means for said instrumentalities, and means including an auxiliary electric motor operable to lift said instrumentalities to an inoperative position away from said operating devices in which thev welt mechanism will not obstruct the subsequent operation of said devices in the production of the fabric.

3. In a flat knitting machine having'operating devices including a needle-series for producing a knitted fabric, a welt mechanism comprising instrumentalities arranged to cooperate with the needles to turn the welt, operating means for said instrumentalities, means including an auxiliary electric motor'for lifting and lowering said instrumentalities to and from an inoperative position away from said operatingdevices, supporting means for the motor, and means to automatically disconnect the motor upon the completion of said lifting and lowering operations.

4. In a at knitting machine having operating devices including a needle series for producing a knitted fabric, a welt mechanism comprising instrumentalities arranged to cooperate with the needles to turn the welt, operating means for said instrumentalities, means including an electric motor for lifting said instrumentalities to an inoperative position away from said operating delnism comprising instrumentalities arranged to cooperate with the needles to set up an initial course on the needles and to return said course to the needles to turn the welt, operating means for said instrumentalities, means including a reversible electric motor for moving said instrumentalities to and from an inoperative position away from said operating devices, switch connections for starting, stopping and reversing the motor, pattern control means foi` actuating said starting and reversing switches, and connections controlled by the movement of said welt mechanism to and from said inoperative position to actuate said motor stop switch.

6.` In a flat knitting machine having operating devices including a needle series for producing a knitted fabric, a welt mechanism comprising instrumentalities arranged to cooperate with the needles to turn the welt, operatingv means for able during said lifting movement to move the Y operative position.

7. In a fiat knitting machine having operating devices including a needle series for producing a.

knitted fabric, a welt mechanism comprising welt instrumentalities arranged to cooperate with the needles to'turn the welt, a pendant on which said` ing means for locking the pendant in an inoperative position.

8. In a flat knitting machine having operating devices including a needle series for producing a knitted fabric, a welt mechanism comprising a series of instrumentalities arranged to cooperate with the needles to turnthe welt, a pendant on which said instrumentalities are movable toward and away fromthe needles, a vertically movable lever support for the pendant, actuating means for imparting swinging and vertical movements to the pendant, mechanically operable means acting on said lever support to lift the pendant to a high inoperative position away from said operating devices, and guiding means operseries of instrumentalities arranged to cooperate with the needles to turn the welt, a pendant on which said instrumentalities are movable toward and away from the needles, a vertically movable lever support for the pendant, actuating -means including cams for imparting swinging and vertical movements to the pendant to turn the welt, and lifting means comprising a vertically movable support arrangedto engage beneath said lever support, and actuating connections for said latter support operable to raise and lower the lever support and pendant to and from a high inoperative position away from said operating devices. l

10. In a multiple section fla-t knitting machine having operating devices including a needle series associated with each section for producing knitted fabric, welt mechanism comprising welt instrumentalities associated with each needle sections to a high inoperative position in which the welt instrumentalities are disconnected from said instrumentalities, mechanically operable means for .lifting and lowering said instrumentalities to and from a high inoperative positionin which the welt instrumentalities are disconnected from said actuating means and are positioned away from said operating devices, and

l means independent of said lifting means for locktheir actuating means, and in which the welt mechanism is positioned away from the operating devices, and means for controlling said mechanism for simultaneously moving the welt having operating devices including a needle series associated with each section for producing knitted fabric,.we1t mechanism comprising welt instrumentalities associated with each needle ing the said welt instrumentalities in a high in-A series for turning the welt, a pendant associated with each section on which said instrumentalities are movable toward and away from the needles, vertically movable lever supports for said pendants, means for imparting swinging and vertical movements to the pendants for simultaneously turning the welts, and4 mechanically operable lifting means arranged to act upon said vertically movable lever supports for simultaneously lifting the pendants to a high inoperative position.

12. In a multiple section fiat knitting machine having operating devices including a needle series associated with each section for producing knitted fabric, welt mechanism comprising welt instrumentalities associated with each needle series for turning the welt, a pendant associated with each section on which said nstrumentalities are movable toward and away from the needles, vertically movable lever supports for said pendants, means for imparting swinging and vertical movements to the pendants for simultaneously turning the welts, mechanically operable lifting means arranged to act upon said vertically movable lever supports for simultaneously lifting the pendants to a high inoperative position, and a locking device associated with each section operable to lock individual pendants in a high inoperative position independently of the operation of said lifting mechanism.

13. In a multiple section flat full-fashioned knitting machine having operating devices including knitting needles associated with the several sections, and driving and pattern mechanisms therefor for producing knitted fabric, certain of said devices being selectively operable, and supported and arranged to be lifted to high inoperative position to permit unobstructed opertion of other of said devices, and auxiliary mechanism for lifting certain of said devices associated with each of the several sections simultaneously to and from said high inoperative positions in which said devices are disconnected from said driving mechanism, said auxiliary mechanism including lifting means arranged to lift'l simultaneously said certain devices associated with each of the several sections, a reversible electric motor, and control means for the motor.

14. In a multiple section nat full-fashioned knitting machine having operating devices including knitting needles associated with the sevf" eral sections, and driving and pattern mechanisms therefor producing knitted fabric, certain of said devices being selectively operable, and supported and arranged to be lifted to high inoperative position to permit unobstructed operation of other of said devices, and auxiliary mechanism for lifting certain of said devices associated with each of the several sections simultaneously to and from said high inoperative positions in which said devices are disconnected from said driving mechanisms, said auxiliary mechanism comprising a vertically movable lever support extending along the length of the machine operable to engage beneath and lift said certain devices, and mechanically operable means for raising and lowering said lever support.

15. In a multiple section flat; full-fashioned knitting machine having operating devices in- Acludingknitting needles associated with the several/sections, and driving and pattern mechanisms therefor for producing knitted fabric, certain of saiddevices being selectively operable, and supported and arranged to be lifted to high inoperative position to permit unobstructed operation of other of said devices, and auxiliary CII mechanism for lifting certain of said devices associated with each of the several sections simultaneously to and from said high inoperative positions in which said devices are disconnected from said driving mechanisms, said auxiliary mechanism comprising a vertically movable lever support extending along the length of the machine operable to engage beneath and lift said certain devices, and power means for raising and lowering said lever support.

1G. In a flat knitting machine having knitting instrumentalities including a series of spring Abeard needles, means for pressing the needle beards, and cooperating sinkers and knockover bits associated therewith, mechanism for setting up an initial course of fabric on the needles comprising vertically arranged hooks having forwardly facing doubled-over portions associated with alternate needles, and means for moving said hooks away from the needles in the direction of take-up, means to sink an initial course of yarn on the needles, means for pressing the beards of said alternate needles to cast off their loops, and means for moving the hooks to bring the outer surface of said doubled-over portions against the cast-01T loops and thereafter to move the hooks downwardly to the back side of the needles to engage said cast-off loops within the hooks.

1'7. In a flat knitting machine hai-ing knitting instrumentalities including a series of spring beard needles, means for pressing the needle beards, and cooperating sinkers and knockover bits associated therewith, mechanism for setting up an initial course of fabric on the needles comprising vertically arranged hooks having forwardly facing doubled-over portions associated with alternate needles, and means for moving said hooks away from the needles in the direction of take-up, means to sink an initial course of yarn on the needles, means for pressing the eards of said alternate needles to cast off their' loops, and means for moving the hooks to bring the outer surface of said doubled-over portions against the cast off loops and thereafter to move the hooks downwardly to the back side of the needles, and then upwardly to engage said cast off loops within the hooks.

18. In a at knitting machine having knitting instrumentalities including a series of spring beard needles, means for pressing the needle beards, and cooperating sinkers and knockover bits associated therewith. mechanism for setting up an initial course of fabric on the needles comprising vertically arranged hooks having forwardly facing doubled-over portions associated with alternate needles, and means for moving said hooks away from the needles in the direction of take-up, means to sink an initial course of yarn on the needles, means for pressing the beards of said alternate needles to cast off their loops` and means for moving the hooks forwardly over the needles to bring the outer surface of said doubled-over portions against the cast off loops and thereafter to. move the hooks downwardly to the back side of the needles to engage said cast off loops within the hooks.

19. In a flat knitting machine having knitting instrumentalities including a series cf spring beard needles, means for pressing the needle beards and cooperating sinkers and knockover bits associated therewith, mechanism for mechanically turning the welt including welt hooks associated with alternate needles having substantially vertical shank portions and forwardly facing doubled-over portions, and means for imparting forward and back and dipping movements to said hooks, means to sink an initial course of yarn on all the needles, means to press the beards of said alternate needles to cast olf their loops, and means for moving the hooks' forwardly over the needles to engage the outer surface of said doubled-over portions against said cast oifloops beyond the back line of the needles,

Vand thereafter to impart a dipping movement to said hooks positioned to the backs of the needles to engage said cast off loops within the hooks.

20. In a flat knitting machine having knitting instrumentalities including a series of spring beard needles, means for pressing the needle beards, and cooperating sinkers and .knockover bits associated 1therewith, vertically arranged welt hooks Vassociated with alternate needles, means to sink an initial course of yarn on all the needles, means for relatively moving the hooks and needles to press the beards of alternate needles against the hooks above the yarn sinking level to cast 01T alternate loops, and means for moving the hooks over the needles to support the cast-off loops against the outer surface of the hooks, and thereafter to move the hooks downwardly to the back side of the needles to engage said cast-off loops within the hooks.

`21. vIn a flat knitting machine having knitting instrumentalities including a series of spring beard needlessmeans for pressing the needle beards` and cooperating sinkers and knockover bits associated therewith, vertically arranged welt hooks associated with alternate needles, means to sink an initialcourse of yarn on all the needles, means for relatively moving the hooks and needles to press the beards of alternate needles against the hooks above the yarn sinking level to cast oi alternate loops, means operativeL during the subsequent movement of the needles to the knockover level to move the hooks forwardly over the needles, and to engage the outer surfaces thereof against the cast-off loops supported on the knockover bits, and thereafter during the subsequent rearward movement of the needles toward the press to move the hooks downwardly between the knockover bits to the back side of the needles to engage said cast-off loops within the hooks.

22. In a flat knitting machine having knitting -instrumentalities including a series of spring beard needles, means-foi` pressing the needle beards, and cooperating sinkers and knockover bits associated therewith, welt hooks associated with alternate needles, means for sinking an initial course of yarn on all the needles, means for positioning the hooks to the beard side of the needles, and with the doubled-over portion thereof extending upwardly toengage 'with and press the beards of alternate needles aboveV the yarn sinking level to cast oil alternate loops, means operative during the subsequent movement of the hooks to the knockover level to move the hooks over the needles to engage with and support the cast-off loops against the outer surface of the hooks, and thereafter during subsequent rearward movement of the needles toward the press to move the hooks downwardly between the knockover bits to the back side of the needles to engage said cast-off loops within the hooks,

23.' In a flat knitting machine having knitting instrumentalities including a series of spring beard needles, means for'pressing the needle beards, and cooperating sinkers and knockover bits associated therewith, welt hooks associated with alternate needles, means for sinking an initial course of yarn on all the needles, means for positioning the hooks to the beard side of the needles in engagement with the press edge and with the doubled-over portions thereof extending upwardly to engage with and press the beards of alternate needles above the yarn sinking level to cast olf alternate loops, means operative during movement of the needles to the knockover level to move the hooks over the needles to engage the cast-off loops supported on the knockover bits against the outer surface of the hooks, and thereafter during rearward movement of the needles toward the press to move the hooks downwardly to the back side of the needles to engage said cast-off loops within the hooks.

24. In a flat knitting machinehaving knitting instrumentalities including a series of 'spring beard needles, -means for pressing the needle beards, and cooperating sinkers and knockover bits associated therewith,`welt hooks associated with alternate needles, means for sinking an initial course of yarnY on all the needles, means for positioning the hooks to the beard side of the needles in engagement with the press edge and with the doubled-over portions thereof extending upwardly to engage with and press the beards of alternate needles above the yarn sinking level to cast oil' alternate loops, means including a setting-up forward and back motion needle cam for moving the needles against said doubled-over hook portions to press olf said alternate needles above the yarn sinking level, means operative during subsequent movement of the needles to' the knockover level to move the hooks over the needles to engage with and support the cast-olf loops against the outer surfaceof the hooks, and thereafter during the subsequent rearward movement of the needles toward the press to move/the hooks downwardly between the knockover bits to the back side of the needles, and again upwardly to engage said cast-oil loops within the hooks.

25.v In a. flat knitting machine having knitting instrumentalities including a series of spring beard needles, means for pressing the needle beards, and cooperating sinkers and knockover bits associated therewith, welt ho'oks associated with alternate needles, means for sinking an initial courseof yarn on all the needles, means for positioning the hooks to the beard side of the needles in engagement with the press edge and with the doubled-over portions thereof extending upwardly to engage with and press the beards of alternate needles above the yarn sinking level to cast oi alternate loops, means including a setting-up forward and back motion needle cam for moving the needles against said doubled-over hooks, and means for applying a take-up tension to the hooks.

2,6.y In aat knitting machine for knitting welt fabric having knitting devices including a needle series, fabric set-up implements and means for moving said implements away from the needles a welt wire of an auxiliary takefup comprising a holder into which the welt wire can be laid manually prior to the time it is required to tension the fabric, and auxiliary take-up tensioning means attached to the holder, means to cause the auxiliary take-up to act to take up the fabric before the setting-up implements cease to act to take up the fabric, said auxiliary take-up being arranged to take up the fabric during the knitting of a portion only of the complete fabric, and a main fabric take-up attachable to the welt wire to take up the fabric during continued knitting.

27. In a flat knitting machine for knitting welt fabric having knitting devices including a needle series, fabric set-up implements and means for moving said implements away from the needles in the direction of take-up, the combination with a welt wire of an auxiliary take-up comprising a holder into which the welt Wire can be laid manually prior to the time it is required to tension the fabric, and auxiliary take-up tensioning means for the holder, means to cause the auxiliary take-up to act to take up the fabric, said auxiliary take-up being arranged to take up the fabric during the knitting of a portion only of the complete fabric, and a main fabric take-upv for the welt wire to take up the fabric during continued knitting.

28. In a fiat knitting machine for knitting welt fabric having knitting devices including a needle series, fabric set-up implements and means for moving said implements away from the needles in the direction of take-up, the combination with a Welt wire of an auxiliary take-up comprising a holder into which the welt wire can be laid manually prior to the time it is required to tension the fabric, and auxiliary take-up tensioning means for the holder, pattern mechanism for the machine, means rendered operative thereby to cause the auxiliary take-up to act to take up the fabric, said auxiliary take-up being arranged to take up the fabric during the knitting of a portion only of the complete fabric, and a main fabric take-up for the welt wire to take up the fabric during continued knitting.

29. In a flat knitting machine for knitting welt fabric having knitting devices including a needle series, fabric setting-up implements and means for moving said implements away-from the needles in the direction of take-up, the'combination with a welt wire, of an auxiliary take-up comprising a holder into which the welt wire can be laid prior to the time it is required to tension the fabric, an auxiliary take-up, tensioning means .for the holder, means to cause the auxiliary takeup to take up a fold of welt fabric, means for closing the welt, a main fabric take-up, means operative during the welt closing operation to relieve the auxiliary take-.up tension, and means operative subsequent to the welt closing operation for rendering said auxiliary take-up inoperative and said main take-up operative to take up the welt wire and fabric attached thereto.

30. In a flat knitting machine for knitting welt fabric having knitting devices including a needle series, a welt mechanism comprising implements to set up and turn the welt, and means for moving said implements away from' the needles in the direction of take-up, the combination with a welt wire, of an auxiliary take-up comprising a holder having a limited movement in a take-up direction` and auxiliary take-up tensioning means connected thereto, means for positioning the auxiliary take-upincluding the holder for the manual laying in of the welt wire in the holder subsequent to the knitting of initial fabric courses, means to cause the auxiliary take-up to act to take up the fabric before the welt setting up implements cease to act to take up the fabric, and a main fabric take-up arranged to be connected to the welt wire subsequent to the turning of the welt to take up the fabric during continued knitting. l

31. In a flat knitting machine for knitting welt fabric having knitting devices including a needle seriesa welt mechanism comprising implements to set up and subsequently to turn the welt, and means for moving said implements away from the needles in the direction of takeup, the combination with a welt wire, of an auxiliary take-up comprising a holder having a limited movement in a take-up direction to draw off the fabric prior to and subsequent to the welt turning operation, and auxiliary take-up tensioning means connected thereto, means for positioning the auxiliary take-up including the holder for thelaying in of the welt wire in the holder prior to the time when it is required, means to cause the auxiliary take-up to act to take up the fabric before the setting up implements cease to act to take up the fabric, and means to relieve the action of said intermediate take-up during the welt turning operation, and a main fabric take-up arranged to be .connected to the welt wire subsequent to the turning of the welt to take up the fabric during continued knitting.

32. In a flat knitting machine for knitting welt fabric having knitting devices including a needle series, welt mechanismcomprising implements to set up and subsequently to turn the welt, and means for moving said implements away from the needles in the direction of take-up, the combination with a welt Wire, of an auxiliary takeup comprising a holder having a limited movement in a take-up direction to draw off the fabric prior to and subsequent to the welt turning. oper ation, and auxiliary take-up tensioning means connected thereto, means for positioning the auxiliary take-up including the holder for the manual laying in of the welt wire in the holder subsequent to the knitting of initial fabric courses, means to cause the auxiliary take-up to act to take up the fabric before the take-up implements cease to take up the fabric, and a main fabric take-up connectible to the welt wire to take up the fabric during continued knitting subsequent to the turning of the welt.

33. In a multiple section flat knitting machine for knitting welt fabrics having associated with each knitting* section, knitting devices including a needle series, welt mechanism comprising im plements to set up and turn the welts, and means for movingsaid implements away from the needles in the direction of take-up, the combination with welt wires, of auxiliary take-ups for the several sections comprising a holder for each section' having a limited movement in a takefup direction to draw off the fabric prior to and subsequent to the welt turning operation, and auxiliary take-up tensioning means connected to the holders, means for positioning the auxiliary take-ups including the several holders for the manual laying in of the welt wires in the holders subsequent to the knitting of initial fabric courses, means to cause the auxiliary take-ups simultaneously to actto take up the fabrics before the setting-up implements cease to act to take up the fabric, and a main fabric take-up 

